- Expected to be largely localised to keep costs low
-Should use the Kawasaki Ninja 300’s engine
-Was spotted testing recently
Kawasaki India was recently spotted testing the Versys-X 300 adventure touring motorcycle, fueling speculation that the bike might be re-launched. Word now is that the Versys-X 300 is likely going to be launched in 2024, mostly by the next quarter. The bike is currently undergoing homologation and validation tests and that’s what is causing the delay.
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 was on sale for a brief period of time in the past. Its high asking price was one of the reasons why it did not sell in big numbers. This time around, however, Kawasaki is said to be working on ensuring that the price of the bike isn't as astronomical as it once was. The company is trying to localise as many components and parts as possible to keep manufacturing costs low. Local sourcing would also mean lower taxes and that should translate to a competitive price tag.
At present, Kawasaki doesn’t have an adventure motorcycle in the 300-500cc space and that's where the market is growing. Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 450 has become a runaway hit. The KTM 390 Adventure is a popular seller and the all-new motorcycle is on the horizon.
Kawasaki will be hoping to make a dent in the market with its parallel-twin-engine- equipped Versys-X 300 which will have its own set of advantages over the Himalayan and 390 ADV that have single-cylinder engines, primarily in terms of refinement at high speeds.
The Versys-X 300’s engine will be the same unit as seen in the Ninja 300. It is a 296cc engine that develops 39bhp and 26.1Nm and the engine is linked to a six-speed gearbox. You can expect the same figures from the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 too. On paper, the KTM will have the peak power advantage over the Versys-X 300, but that's only one side of the coin.
The hardware seen on the Versys-X 300 includes a telescopic front fork and monoshock. The bike rides on tube type, wire spoke wheels. Braking duties are taken care of by a disc brake at the front and the rear.
Prices of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 start at Rs 2.85 lakh while that of the KTM 390 Adventure begin at Rs 3.38 lakh. Expect the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 to be priced between Rs 3.6 to Rs 3.9 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom.
